The short version of the Metacognitive Prospective Memory Inventory (MPMI-s): factor structure, reliability, validity, and reference data

Jan Rummel,Beatrice G Kuhlmann,Daniel Danner

doi:10.1186/s42409-019-0008-6

Jan Rummel, Beatrice G Kuhlmann + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s42409-019-0008-6

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Abstract

Prospective memory, the ability to remember to execute an intended action at the appropriate moment in the future, is frequently assessed with standardized questionnaires. Prospective-memory abilities strongly depend on the different strategies people use to remember their intentions. In this study, we introduce the short version of the Metacognitive Prospective Memory Inventory (MPMI-s) that allows for a quick assessment of individual differences in self-reported prospective-memory abilities as well as in the use of mnemonic strategies (e.g., intention rehearsal) and external memory aids (e.g., calendars). Based on data from two waves of the GESIS longitudinal panel, we provide evidence that this novel questionnaire offers reliable and valid measures of prospective-memory abilities as well as of internal and external strategy use. As the panel sample is representative of the German population, we are further able to provide reference data that allow evaluating individual PM ability and strategy-use scores obtained with the MPMI-s.

Highlights

Prospective memory (PM) refers to the ability to remember an intention at the appropriate moment in the future (Cohen & Hicks, 2017)
We will show that the short version of our newly developed Metacognitive Prospective Memory Inventory (MPMI-s) has good psychometric properties
Factorial structure Based on previous research (Rummel, Kuhlmann, & Danner: A questionnaire for the asssessment of perceived prospective memory abilities and strategy use: The metacognitive prospective memory inventory (MPMI), in preparation), we hypothesized that items should form three different factors, that is, a PM ability (PMA), an internal PM strategy use (PMSi), and an external PM strategy use (PMSe) factor, that should be positively but moderately correlated with each other

Summary

Introduction

Prospective memory (PM) refers to the ability to remember an intention at the appropriate moment in the future (Cohen & Hicks, 2017). Typical everyday examples of PM tasks are remembering to take a cake out of the oven after 20 min, remembering to buy a birthday present for a significant other, or remembering to take prescription pills after breakfast. From these examples, it is obvious that PM failures can have negative personal consequences, from a burnt cake or missing present ruining a birthday party to severe health issues from forgetting to take one’s medicine. Brief screening tools for PM impairments are of crucial importance To this end, we present a 22-item questionnaire that allows to reliably asses self-perceived PM abilities and use of strategies that may influence PM abilities in daily life. We will provide reference data for the MPMI-s based on a large representative German sample

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